STAFFORD — A joint effort between township and Ocean County workers in cleaning up debris from superstorm Sandy could save residents here about $20 million.

Township and county officials have approved an interlocal agreement for the storm cleanup.

James Moran, the township business administrator, said the cleanup will now cost $5 million to $7 million. Without the agreement, township officials would have had to borrow the money, passing the cost of the loan on to Stafford taxpayers.

“We would have had to borrow $20 million to pursue the course of action we were on,” Moran said. “It’s a significant difference for us going into the next fiscal year.”

The county Board of Freeholders appropriated $50 million to aid local communities with debris removal. The board will utilize a 75/25 percent FEMA grant program to cover the waste removal costs and pass the 25 percent tab not covered by the grant back to the municipalities.

Stafford is one of 15 communities heavily damaged by the storm that have entered into the agreement with the county. More than 5,000 homes in this 55-square-mile community were damaged in the storm, leaving an estimated 150,000 yards, or roughly 85 miles, of storm debris.

From Nov. 2 to Dec. 3, township workers and county-contracted Ashbritt Inc., a waste-removal company, have collected about 67,663 yards of storm debris.

“We are still very much in the midst of trying to get everything up to speed and back on track,” Mayor John Spodofora said. “We will be back to normal early next year.”

Spodofora said debris is being collected 10 hours each day.

The town has been separated into five collection zones with more than 20 trucks hauling debris to a temporary waste area on Haywood Road. Only storm debris, not new construction waste, is being collected.